Archive for the ‘team-New York Rangers’ tag
The Hockey News’ latest “Hot List”
The Hockey News’ latest hot list “Beefing up Broadway” highlights 10 players currently in NHL training camps starting with Richard Panik (Tampa Bay Lightning):
At 2, they have Bobby Sanguinetti (New York Rangers):
At 3 is Nick Petrecki (San Jose Sharks – who, of course, should be at the top of the list as a former Boston College Eagle) – previous blog gallery. At 4 – Mike Murphy who I have not had the chance to shoot, followed by former Michigan Wolverine Aaron Palushaj (St. Louis Blues) – previous blog gallery – and at 6 Simon Despres (Pittsburgh Penguins):
Coming it at 7 is Brandon Saad, the second of the three I haven’t shot, 8 is Tomas Kubalik (Columbus Blue Jackets) – previous blog gallery and at 9 is Kyle Clifford (Los Angeles Kings):
Rounding out the list is Alex Petrovic.
Next steps for the next generation
Ryan Bourque has “graduated” from the National Team Development Program and will be playing for the Quebec Remparts (de-committed from the University of New Hampshire)
Ryan Bourque is the brother of Chris Bourque currently in the Washington Capitals organization after a year at Boston University and the son of former NHL-er Ray Bourque.
David Musil joins the Vancouver Giants after playing in the Czech Republic. A good bit of controversy over how Musil wound up with the Giants (major junior teams draft players and European players are handled differently than North American players). Gregg Drinnan covered it here and here.
Musil’s father is former NHL-er Frantisek (Frank) Musil
and his uncle is former NHL-er Bobby Holik (those who know me as a former Devils STH are now amazed that I typed out his name properly rather than using the name I used at games, but there is a limit to my restraint):
The hockey lineage doesn’t stop there – Holik’s father and uncle, Jaroslav and Jiri, were stars in Czechoslovakia. Behind the rubber chicken, you can see the book “Dynastie Holiku” by Jaroslav Kirchner which I picked up at CEZ Arena in Pardubice during the 2008 World Juniors (not sure if they have a bookstore in town, but if I understood correctly, they have a few tables of books and videos at all hockey games held there). I also picked up a copy of Slovenske Hviezdy v NHL.
Philip Samuelsson is making the move from the USHL (Chicago Steel) to the Boston College Eagles. Samuelsson played for Team Sweden during the Four Nations Cup last November, but as that was not an IIHF tournament, it did not bind him to Sweden. In April, he played for Team USA in the IIHF Under 18 Championship. (Note – a quick google shows there were some changes in the rules. Not sure if they’d allow him to change again in the future or not.
Philip Samuelsson’s father Ulf Samuelsson is a former NHL-player and now is a coach with the Phoenix Coyotes.
Traverse City – New York Rangers
New York Rangers participants included:
Ethan Werek
Evgeny Grachev – NHL.com article
Ryan Bourque – NHL.com article
Roman Horak
Brothers: Matt and Kevin Gilroy
I’ve wanted to do something related to brothers (or sisters) for a long time, my first favorite player from the past was Maurice “Rocket” Richard whose younger brother Henri “Pocket Rocket” Richard also played and my first “I want to bang my – or yours if I could get away with it – head into a concrete wall” player was Scott Niedermayer whose younger brother Rob also plays in the NHL (they don’t have nice descriptive nicknames and you don’t want to know my idea for an invention that would have worked as both a fan promotion and a way to keep Nieder from “sleepwalking” as Larry Robinson described his play). A nice, heavy on the pictures book came out a few years ago on the various brother and father/son, etc. combinations – Hockey Dynasties: Bluelines and Bloodlines.
There should be a fourth generation NHL player in the next few seasons – either Blake Geoffrion (Howie Morenz – son-in-law Boom Boom Geoffrion – grandson – Danny, great-grandson Blake) or Brett Hextall (Bryan Hextall – son Bryan Jr (and Dennis) – grandson Ron – great-grandson Brett).
Boston College had 8 or 9 brother combinations represented by atleast one brother a couple of seasons ago, but since there wouldn’t be hockey brothers without hockey moms, my first entry will be in honor of Peg Gilroy’s birthday today. Matt and Kevin Gilroy were able to play together last season for the Boston University Terriers, Matt as a Hobey Baker-winning senior co-Captain and Kevin as a freshman.